Menu Close

DisCos explain issues with procurement of prepayment electricity meters

Prepayment Electricity Meters

*The Association of Nigeria Electricity Distributors clarifies DisCos are operating within the regulatory guidelines established by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission on consumer metering requirements

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

In regard to seemingly unending controversies surrounding meter procurement, the Association of Nigeria Electricity Distributors (ANED) has clarified instances where power consumers are allowed to pay for meters in the West African country .

ConsumerConnect reports ANED is the umbrella body of the 11 electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) in Nigeria.

The Association Monday, March 7, 2022, said not all approved metering schemes, currently active in the country, offer meters at no immediate expense to electricity consumers.

Barr. Sunny Oduntan, Executive Director, Research and Advocacy of ANED, who made the clarifications said the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) currently has two channels through which consumers could access meters.

Oduntan reportedly said these channels include the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP) and the Meter Asset Provider (MAP).

The ANED  Executive Director also noted on the one hand is the NMMP, which is a policy intervention by the Federal Government, with funding from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), meters are provided “free of charge” to consumers but “as loans” to the DisCos.

According to him, on the other hand, the second route to obtain a meter is under the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) scheme, which was approved in 2018.

Oduntan further explained that this other option is available to power consumers, who are not willing to wait for the availability of meters under the NMMP.

He explained that in the MAP arrangement, consumers who opt for this option would be refunded as “the amount paid by the customer will be amortised and refunded over a 36-month period via energy credits.”

ANED Executive Director said that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC)’s “Meter Asset Provider and National Mass Metering Regulations,” Regulation No. NERC-R-11-2021 actually backed both options.

The twin approaches, he stated, are aimed at closing the metering gap within one to two years, hence reducing estimated billing.

Oduntan, however, said that under the second programme, with the advantage of expedited delivery and installation, the customer has to first pay for the meter before being refunded.

“Ultimately, the meter is free to the customer, via the energy credits,” he said.

The Executive Director restated the implementation of Phase 0 (zero) of the NMMP had been concluded by all the DisCos, as they await the commencement of Phase in the economy.

Oduntan further said: “All the DisCos are finalising the documentation and disbursement requirements of the funding for Phase 1, with an expected kick-off of the same soonest.

“It is important to clarify that the DisCos are operating within the regulatory guidelines established by their regulator, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), relative to meeting customer metering requirements.”

Recall Abubakar Aliyu, Honourable Minister for Power, recently warned the electricity Distribution Companies against selling prepayment meters.

The Minister yet, reiterated that procurement of the electricity meters is ‘free’.

Kindly Share This Story

 

 

Kindly share this story